The Champion: Jon Jones
Jon Jones is widely regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. His dominance in the Light Heavyweight division is unmatched, and his transition to the UFC Heavyweight division has been equally successful. After a storied career that included multiple title defenses and a few controversies, Jones won the UFC Heavyweight Championship in 2023 by defeating Ciryl Gane.
With a record of 28 wins, 1 loss (via disqualification), and 1 no contest, Jones is a dominant force in the sport. His skill set is vast, combining elite wrestling, striking, and fight IQ. Jones has beaten top-tier fighters such as Daniel Cormier, Alexander Gustafsson, and now Ciryl Gane. His ability to adapt and outsmart opponents is a key factor in his reign as champion.
While his reign in the Heavyweight division is still in its early stages, Jones is a highly skilled and experienced fighter who will be a tough champion to dethrone. However, there are rising contenders in the division who could challenge him in 2025.
The Favorite: Tom Aspinall
Tom Aspinall is one of the most exciting prospects in the UFC Heavyweight division. Aspinall holds the position of Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion, showcasing his incredible finishing ability and athleticism. Aspinall has an impressive record of 15 wins and 3 losses, with most of his victories coming by first-round finishes. His ability to finish fights quickly has earned him the UFC record for the shortest average fight time at just 2 minutes and 2 seconds.
Aspinall's career took a hit in 2022 when he suffered a knee injury during a fight with Curtis Blaydes, but he bounced back with a series of dominant performances, including wins over Sergei Pavlovich and Curtis Blaydes himself. Aspinall’s fast hands, powerful striking, and well-rounded skill set make him one of the most dangerous fighters in the division. His wrestling and grappling are continually improving, which makes him a well-rounded threat to any heavyweight.
With his athleticism, power, and rapid rise in the division, Aspinall is the favorite to challenge Jones for the title in 2025. If he can continue his impressive run and stay injury-free, Aspinall could be the man to dethrone Jones.
The Underdog: Alex Pereira
While Alex Pereira is currently competing in the UFC Light Heavyweight division, his striking skills and success in combat sports make him a unique and intriguing potential challenger for the UFC Heavyweight Championship.
Pereira’s background in kickboxing is legendary, where he became the Glory middleweight and light heavyweight champion. He is the only fighter to hold world titles in both MMA and kickboxing across two weight classes. Pereira made a successful transition to MMA, winning the UFC Middleweight Championship in 2022 and the Light Heavyweight Championship in 2023.
Despite his success at 205 pounds, Pereira has also expressed interest in moving up to the Heavyweight division, which could set up an intriguing match against Jones. Pereira’s knockout power, honed through years of kickboxing, would be a dangerous weapon in the Heavyweight division, where striking often reigns supreme.
While Pereira’s current focus is on Light Heavyweight, his striking ability and potential move up to Heavyweight make him a wild card in the division. However, given the size and wrestling advantage that heavyweights typically possess, Pereira would be an underdog to end 2025 as the Heavyweight Champion. His striking skills could make him a dangerous opponent for anyone in the division, but he would need to overcome significant challenges against bigger, stronger fighters like Jones and Aspinall.
